dang Dougly, no damper.....yeah, cap that bad dog!!(remember the cap if you build a fire.......

I may have an extra fireplace insert here, so don't buy new.......and there are lots "out there" if they need work I can usually make or fix what's called for.I've been welding cutting and welding again, getting the "little stuff, on the Hofstove done. I laid it on it's top ( top on table, then lower stove body on it), so getting it shimmed as flat as possible, before welding. It's a trick to keep a large flat piece of steel, flat, if doing much welding on it.......I sure hope I can pull it off. You can use long beads, to "pull" the steel (provides thousands of lbs of pull as it initially cools, or small "shims, or shimming beads" to hold before the bigger bead goes on. I think it 's more art than science, so I'm hoping to pull it off.

It's just a learned skill.There's a guy at gun factories who trues barrels after all the work is done.Or they used to use someone for this.Considered the best of metal workers.They used to do it by sight.

Cookies delivered to the neighbors, mostly. One didn't answer the door, so I left them n the chair on the porch. Ah well, the critters will like them.

Our fireplace has a cap, but the flue is down low. Sure can tell when it is open. Used to be a dual gas/wood set up, but the valve on the gas line was scary faulty, so Larry de-plumbed it. I call in a chimney sweep every now and then, apparently we did have a chimney fire a few years back.

Baking baking baking and more baking today, since flour butter sugar and chocolate are still cheaper than shopping mall type gifts and, to me at least are much more interesting. Giving myself a gift maybe but, "oh good I love this stuff" is always nice to hear. And I personally really like consumable gifts, as I never have to wonder where to put them.

Okay now WORK

"Burning Man ruined my life as I knew it, and I have never been happier." -mgb327

Morning. Coffeeeeeeeee wheeeeeeee! Not a baker, here. I have a kitchen with about 2 feet of counter space, half between wall and stove, half between stove and sink. I think there is a mixer in the garage somewhere, in one of the identical boxes labeled either, "kitchen" or "Nina" or maybe just "garage" Maybe I'll do some decorating in the old bar.

Good Morning all !MDF wish I was a neighborbut instead I am going to go get some exercise in this lovely storm before the sturm get up Maureen Dowd says it better than anyone from apocalypse to dystopia and here I am dumbing down quietlymaybe

*stumbles in*aaahh...coffee.........two pots to choose from AntiM and MDF.......I'll mix'em.dang I slept in. all this rain and wind, just lull me to sleep and seem to keep me there. Well, that and long days wrestlin that big stove and cutting and welding.

I terrible about xmas......sort of "antixmas" it seems. I get all grumpy and isolated, just want it to be over. No baking, no cards......I am "The Grinchatola", it seems. hahaa

Thank you all for the lovely diversions todaystorm gusted and took power out ..just came on again.but my playa coated gear is out and ready nowonly burners will survive as I yelled at my not sons to not open the fridge and not to showermy real sons ..burners all.. know that stuffleaky places but nothing too badMarty, you okay and have power ?Elliot, awesome work on the ladderYggy I, scanned FJ's message and couldn't find what you did

I'm right there with you, Ygmir. Neither Pandorra are into the default holiday stuff at all. We do a bit more in the home-cooked department this time of year, but that's because she's got the time off work and we can tinker a bit more in the kitchen. Thanks for the toons, gotta love the classic Bugs...

WOO WHO!!Just found out one of my moms friends bought the salon that I very first worked at when I finished school up town. She is in the works of getting it finished and opened. I have an interview with her at 10 am Monday. It will be so awesome if I can get back to doing hair again! Wish me luck!

maladroit- Burning Man is like a second job, except you pay to work there.Burning Man is just the pre party for exodus! - fellow burner during exodus

Hi ASD, our power was out for about one minute this morning. Off and then back on. Me too Trilo, I am always glad when the clock strikes midnight on the 25th and the holiday is over. FJ, you are indeed an inspiration with those found material sculptures. Good luck TG it could be a great start for you in 2013! Saw that Gerlach has also had some rain in the past few days as well, Lucky. Could bode well for a hard Playa surface in 2013, although I guess it is a bit early to speculate on that. Hey Elliot, I really love that word, and it does fit you. Lemur, that is one very beautiful face in that picture.

Gave my 7 year old granddaughter a pottery lesson today and that was fun. She took home some clay and some tools and will make a hand built heart shaped container with her mom at her house and bring it back for me to fire in my kiln. Got to make a few pieces of my own as well, so that was good. Tennis tomorrow if the weather forecast is correct.

Meanwhile, slithers out of clothes and into the hot tub. Whose got the bubbly?